Sweepstick



Dec. 15, 1953 R. HElM 2,662,557

SWEEPSTICK Filed June 15, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 if I 39 Zhwemor (Ittornegs Dec. 15, 1953 L. R. HEIM 2,562,557

SWEEPSTICK Filed June 15, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 F 9 11 Ztmaentor (Ittornegs Patented Dec. 15, 1953 SWEEPSTICK Lewis R. Heim, Fairfield, Conn., assignor to The Heim Company, Fairfield, Cnn., a corporation of Connecticut Application June 15, 1949, Serial No. 99,135

9 Claims. (01. 139-151) This invention relates to sweepsticks for use in looms and the like, and has for an object to provide a new and improved sweepstick which will have sufficient flexibility and resiliency so as to absorb much of the shocks involved in operating the mechanism in shifting the shuttle back and forth through the shed.

A further object is to provide such an improved sweepstick with an improved bearing in at least one end which is capable of lateral rocking movement to compensate for misalignment without causing cramping or other binding action.

Another object is to provide a sweepstick of this character in which is involved a new and improved method and means of mounting such bearing in the sweepstick.

A sweepstick is used in the mechanism of a loom which forces the shuttle back and forth through the shed. This operation involves a considerable shock to the mechanism which is repeated in every operation of the shuttle. It is desirable to provide this mechanism with sufficient flexibility, yielding and resiliency which will absorb much of the shock incident to the operation of the shuttle and operating mechanism, to thus eliminate as far as possible breakage of the parts and reduce wear. It is also desirable to have a bearing in the sweepstick capable of compensating for misalignment without cramping or binding. In this invention I have secured these desirable results by making either the whole body of the sweepstick or at least a portion of it of a flexible, resilient, yielding, shockabsorbing material, such, for example, as vulcanized rubber or other suitable plastic, or vulcanized rubber or other suitable plastic in which is embedded and vulcanized layers of fabric, such, for example, as canvas. Or it could be of any other suitable, yielding, resilient, shock-absorbing material. A sweepstick of this material not only has a certain amount of yield or resiliency longitudinally to absorb longitudinal strains or shocks, but is also capable of a certain amount of lateral bending or yielding, and by mounting in the sweeptsick body comprising this material an improved bearing which is capable of lateral rocking movement the construction effectively absorbs both longitudial and lateral shocks and also com pensates for misalignment without binding or cramping effect. not only of the sweepstick itself but also of the connected mechanism with which it is used, and improving operation of the device as well as greatly increasing its operative life and eiiiciency.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, I

This greatly increases the life have devised the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification. It is, however, to be understood the invention is not limited to the specific details of construction and arrangement shown, but may embody various changes and modifications within the scope of th invention.

In these drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of one form of my improved sweepstick;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof with portions broken away to more clearly show the construction;

Fig. 3 is a partial section and partial side elevation showing the method of mounting the bearing in the sweepstick;

Fig. 3a is a similar view showing a somewhat modified construction;

Fig. 4 is a transverse section through a portion of the body of the sweepstick;

Fig. 5 is a side view of a somewhat modified construction Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the form of Fig. 5 with parts broken away to more clearly show the construction;

Fig. 7 is a detail section showing the method of mounting the bearing in the sweepstick;

Fig. 8 is a transverse section through the body of the sweepstick;

Fig. 9 is a side view of the sweepstick showing another modification;

Fig. 10 is a plan view thereof with parts broken away to more clearly show the construction, and

Fig. 11 is a partial section and partial side elevation showing the method of mounting the bearing in one end of the stick.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, the stick comprises a body it of any suitable cross section, preferably substantially rectangular as shown, formed of some suitable yielding, resilient shock-absorbing material, such, for example, as vulcanized rubber or other plastics, which is sufficiently hard and rigid to retain its shape and still has a certain amount of yield, resiliency and flexibility to absorb shocks in operation but still will transmit the necessary force required for this operation. It may be a solid bar of this vulcanized rubber or other plastic, or it could contain a strengthening fabric as indicated at l l, with any suitable number of layers embedded in and vulcanized in the rubber. At one end it may have bearing [2 for connection to the mechanism with which it is used, and if desired the same may be strengthened and stiffened by thickening, as indicated at l3.

At the opposite end it is provided with an improved bearing l4 including an element capable of lateral rocking movement to compensate for misalignment in the parts connected by this sweepstick. This comprises a metal member i5 the outer surface of which is spherical, and it is mounted in two supporting rings l6 also of metal and havinga spherical innersurface [1 corresponding with the outer surface of the spherical member 25. The member I5 has a transverse straight bearing 8 for connection with the operating mechanism. This bearing mounted in the material of the body 10 by any suitable means and method. .'As zindicated tin Fig. 3, the body it is provided with recesses 19 opening through its opposite sides and tapered, as indicated. The inner ends iof ,these recesses may be separated by an annular rib 20 of the material of the body It. The inlet side l l of this recess is about the same size as or slightly larger than the outerdiameterclf .the rings 45a which after processing formtherings .16 of ;theibearing. These rings have a concave .or spherical :inner :surface '22 and at their larger ;ends -,2;3 have .an outer diameter, aboutequal to the'outer'diameter .of the member {#5 at about the .level i of the side walls 24 of the body iii, as:shown-'in Fig. 3. ,-In mounting the bearing in themember 'l fithedevice isrpla-cedjbetweenthe die-fi-and punch 26 with the thinner edged ends of the ring .lfiajust-entering gthezrecesses t9 and engaging the side walls of the .memberrlii. qThenzby pressing these two ;die members together the two rings [6a are forced againsttheside walls of themember 15, expanding :or spreading these rings so that :theininner surfaces 22 closely grip and:conform-to the-outer sphericalsurface .z'iof t-he member :I 5 :as :they are forced to the position showninFig; 2. The outer vdiameterbf the recesses ii 9 -is:made:smalier than the outer diameters {of :these rings when in "this ,ifina1.-po si tion,.so that when the -.ringsgare .forced to the final position and are expanded, :theyalso @compress :the material adjacent to ,and forming 1the.outer-walls of :therecesses 19, so :that these rings are now held in this position byitheptessure iandiresilientiaction of ;the.compressed material of themember lit maintainingra good flit on the spherical -member 15 and properly retaining :the rings IS in position. This bearing emember .135

loan :rock laterally to compensate for ;misalignment between the parts connected by .thesweepstick As :thebearingis mounted directly in the resilient :material zthere is also ;a shock-absorbing support .for :the bearing.

Theform ofthe deviceshown in EliguSais the same as that of Figs. 1, 2 and .3 .andis put to- ;gether infthe same way exceptjthatithe rib 2D is :omitted and the :rings lib (corresponding to rings #5) embracing'the bearing member I15 .come :together at their {inner ends. .These rings and therefore the ;rings ,tec which are iorced .against member 15 to form :rings 11,611 in assembling the hearing are :made somewhat longer than rings 4,6.and lea. Otherwise the construction, arrangement and afunctioning of the :form of Fig. 3a is the same as that of Figs. v1, 2 and 3.

Referring to the form of the device shown :in Figs. -5 to -8 inclusive, the body portion 28 isals0 formed of suitable yielding, resilient shock-abvsorbingmaterial andmay be of vulcanized rubber 01' ,otherqplastics and combinationof rubber .vul- ,canizecl with fabric :29, or other plastics molded .with fabric, the same .as inxthe first form. "The :bodyof :this sweepstick, however, ismade of two pieces 30 and 3|, laid side by side and secured together by any suitable means, such, for example, as a suitable cement indicated at 32 in Fig. 8, or they could be secured by screws or rivets 3.3, or combinations of screws, rivets and cement, as found most desirable. The bearing 34 is the same as the bearing I 4 of Figs. 1 and 2, except that in this case it is not necessary to expand the rings 35 ontothe-spherica'lunember BG, although this can-be done=if desired. That is, these rings may be made with the inner surface 31 formed as .-a portion of a, sphere corresponding to the outer ,surface 38 of the member 36 and tapered on their outer walls as shown at 39. Each section 30 and .di bf therbody 28 of the sweepstick is provided witheitaperedcircular recess to receive these rings and with-the larger diameter facing inwardly. ilhetdiameter of these recesses is also less than the outer diameters of the rings 39, so that'asthe parts are assembled as shown in Fig. 7, and then pressed together to bring the parts :to ithe-positiomshown in Fig. 6, the amaterialfsurrounding the recesses 40 is compressed, .so that .wl'ien :the members .30 :and =31 are secured {together :the ibearing ;is resiliently held by these compressed portions :of the resilient material, ithe same as described in connection with Figs. 1 to 4. The opposite end of .thelstickrmambeipro- .vided 'with the :bearing 4! icorresponding ito "the hearing I 2 of the firstform,-and this endimayzbe stiffened and reinforced by metal plates .-l3 the same-as in thefirst'formif desired. Thissweepstick construction operates and functions the same as the constructionshown :in Figs. ,1 to 4.

:Referring to theform .of Figs. -9 -,l0-and 1-1, the

swivehor rockingrbearing 42 isthe samaasrthatiof the other two forms except-that insteadzofrbeing mounted directly ,inithe yielding, resilient, shockabsorbing material 43 -.forming the {body of the sweepst ck, it isimounted-in a metalrhead or block -44. This block is provided with tapered recesses viiiwhichrnay be separated'at:theirinner endsrby an annular :rib 146, :and the two rings 41a corre- :spond :in :size and shape -to the rings 16a =01 the :first 'form. That 515, the internal diameter of their inner ends :is of -substantially the same diameter as the outer surface .of :the spherical :member '48 at aboutthelevel of the side walls ;of the head, and the (entrance-to the recess :15 is about the :same as ,or slightly larger than the ;outer diameteriofithe ringsAla, so;that'asthe;two :rings 4111 are forced :inwardly by the action -,of -zthe:tool-s-.25-and 26,-these-rings d-laare expanded into a close fit :about the spherical member -48 and into the recesses .45 with a tight-fit and :a

; certain amount of compression of the material surrounding these recesses to grip and hold :the bearing. This ,head with :the bearing in .it is secured {to ,oneendof the body portion 43 .comprising :the yielding, resilient, shock-absorbing ;material, which may be of ,thesame construction as described in connection with the :first two forms. Any :suitable joint :or .connection abetween them may the used, but that shown comprises a transverse slot ,59 in the :end of the portionABgto provide a'forked end-andto provide the metal head 46 with a correspondingly shaped tongue 51 seatedin this forked end and secured .byany suitable means, such, :for example, as the bolts or rivets :52. The other end {may have :a similar plain bearing 53 corresponding to the bearings lLandM of the firstjforms, and this :end may be stiffened and strengthened .:by :making it thicker as shown at 554, corresponding to the :reinforcementat 1.3 of thefirst form.

It -will,- therefore, be seen that in all forms the body portion oi. the sweepstick comprises a yielding, resilient shock-absorbing material which will absorb both longitudinal and lateral shocks, and that all of them include at least at one end a bearing capable of lateral rocking movement to compensate for misalignment between the parts connected. by the sweepstick. This provides a sweepstick of strong, durable construction of highly efficient action and in which the component parts are interlocked together but nevertheless the members are free to operate in a manner to yield or absorb shocks resulting from axial thrust, yet permit complete freedom of relative movement to compensate for deflection, misalignment, and possible errors in construction. It will be evident the sweepstick is a very simple one of practical and eflicient construction adapted to be manufactured in a practical and efiicient way. It provides a practical method of assembling the sweepstick elements in such a manner as to produce an improved construction which will insure freedom of relative movement in operation and yet dependably connect the parts with which they operate.

Having thus set forth the nature of my invention, I claim:

1. A sweepstick for looms and the like comprising a connecting bar provided with means at one end for connecting it to a driving member, and means at the other end for connecting it to a driven member, one of said means comprising a bearing including a spherical central member provided with a bearing passage therethrough, a pair of enclosing rings mounted in the bar one on each of the opposite sides of the central member and having bearing surfaces forming portions of a sphericalsurface to grip and hold the central member for rocking movement, and said bar being composed of flexible resilient material capable of limited yielding both laterally and longitudinally under strain.

2. A sweepstick for looms and the like comprising a connecting bar of resilient material, a bearing in one end of the bar comprising a spherical bearing member enclosed between two rings having internal spherical sockets to embrace the bearing member, the outer walls of said rings being tapered to increase in diameter inwardly from the sides of the bar, and the resilient material of the bar being compressed about the rings bearing in one end of the bar comprising a spherical bearing member enclosed between two rings having internal spherical sockets to embrace the bearing member, said rings being externally tapered and the material of the bar being provided with tapered sockets to receive said rings, and said sockets being smaller than the rings in normal condition of the resilient material so that when the rings are inserted in the sockets this material is compressed about the rings to grip and hold them by its resilient action.

4. A sweepstick for looms and the like comprising a connecting bar of resilient material, a bearing in one end of the bar comprising a spherical bearing member enclosed between two rings having internal spherical sockets to embrace the bearing member, said bar comprising two longitudinal sections placed side by side and secured together, each section being provided on its inner side with an inwardly tapered socket to receive one of said rings, and said sockets 6 being normally of smaller diameter than the rings so that as the rings are inserted in the sockets and the sections secured together the resilient material about the sockets is compressed to grip and hold the rings by its resilient action.

5. A sweepstick for looms and the like comprising a connecting bar of resilient vulcanized rubber, a bearing in one end of the bar comprising a spherical bearing member enclosed between two rings having internal spherical surfaces to embrace the bearing member, said bar comprising two longitudinal sections of substantially rectangular cross section placed. side by side and secured together, each section being provided in its inner side wall with an inwardly tapered socket to receive one of said rings, and said sockets being normally of smaller diameter than the rings so that as the rings are inserted in the sockets and the sections secured together, the resilient rubber about the sockets is compressed to grip and hold the rings by its resilient action.

6. A sweepstick for looms and the like comprising a connecting bar of yieldable resilient material forked at one end and provided with a transverse bearing at the other end, a metal head provided with a tongue seated in said forked end, means for securing said tongue to the bar, and a transverse bearing mounted in said head for rocking movement relative to the bar to compensate for misalignment between members to which the bar may be connected.

'7. A device of the character described comprising a connecting bar of resilient flexible material yieldable under strain, said bar being provided with means at one end for connecting it to a driving member, and means at the other end for connecting it to a driven member, one of said means comprising a bearing including a spherical central member provided with a bearing passage therethrough, a pair of separate enclosing rings mounted in the bar one on each of the opposite sides of the central member and having spherical bearing surfaces corresponding with that of the central member to engage and hold this member for rocking movement, said rings being each separately mounted in and supported directly by the resilient material of the bar and with the material adjacent the rings being somewhat compressed so as to tend to hold the rings against the central member.

8. A device of the character described comprising a connecting bar of resilient flexible ma-- terial yieldable under strain, said bar being provided with means at one end for connecting it to a driving member, and means at the other end for connecting it to a driven member, one of said means comprising a bearing including a spherical central member provided with a bearing passage therethrough, a pair of separate enclosing rings mounted in the bar one on each of the opposite sides of the central member and having spherical bearing surfaces corresponding with that of the central member to engage and hold this member for rocking movement, said rings being each independently mounted in intcrlocking engagement with and supported directly by the resilient material of the bar so that this material forms a yieldable support for the rings and tends to hold these rings against the central member.

9. A device of the character described comprising a connecting bar of resilient vulcanized rubber, means at the opposite ends of the bar for connecting the bar in a driving mechanism,

7 .one of :said :means comprising a bearing including a spherical bearing member provided with a bearing passage, a, pair of separate enclosing rings mounted in the bar one on each of :the opposite-sides of the spherical memberand having spherical bearing surfaces corresponding with that of :said member to engage and hold this member for lateral .rocking movement :relative to the bar to compensate for misalignment in the :connected mechanism, and said rings being each-mounted fin and'supported idireotly by the resilient .rubberof the bar-s0 that this material retains the rings against-the spher ical member while forming a =yie1dab1e support f or the rings.

LEWIS R. HEIM.

References Ditefl tin the :Ifile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Claus Jan. 1 7, 1928 'Ea'kin's Oct. "-7, 1 930 -'Chadbourne et a1. Dec. '5, I939 Prentice Dec. *8, 1942 'He'im Jan. 2, 1945 Kealhey Aug. 6, '1'9'4'6 Moe 20, $948 Heim July '19, 1949 Heim NOV. '22, 194!) 

